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(No Model.)

F. F. ATKINSON. Folding Table.

No. 231,252. Patented Aug. 17,1880.

N. PETERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHEE WASHINGTON. Dr G.

UNITED ST PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS F. ATKINSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,252, dated August1'7, 1880.

Application filed March 21, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS F. ATKINSON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do herebydeclare that the following is afull, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

1 My invention relates to tables with folding egs.

It consists in securing one set or pair of legs to the under side of thetable by a hinged joint, the other pair being hinged centrally to thefirst pair, and secured, when brought into proper position to uphold thetable, by means of a novel swinging clamp attached to the under side ofthe table and formed to engage the upper connecting-bar of the free pairof legs.

The object of my invention is to provide a table whose legs will closeand fold flatly and neatly under the top, and which may be readily andfirmly secured when set up by an adjustable device placed under thetable, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding table, the positionof its parts when folded being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the table; Fig. 3, a view of the under side of thetable when its legs are closed or folded down thereon. Figs. 4 and 5 areenlarged sectional views, in detail, of the devices for securing thelegs when opened and when closed, respectively.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the table; B B and B B, its legs,connected in pairs by cross-bars G O, and pivoted together centrally bymeans of pivot-pins or a central transverse rod, D, the one pair, B B,fitting and swinging within the other pair, B B, as shown in Fig. 2. Theouter legs, B B, are pivoted or hinged at their upper extremities to theunder side of the table at E E. The upper crossbar, G, of the innerlegs,-"BB, is formed with a central rectangular portion, affording abearing-surface to fit neatly against the under side of the table whenthrown up for its support, and is provided with a central notch,

adjustable clamp-screw, Gr, secured to the under side of the table inproper position to engage the cross-bar 0 when the legs are opened tosupport the table. The clamp-screw G, 5 fitted with a thumbnut, H, ispivoted to swing freely between ears m 012, (see Fig. 4,) projectingfrom a plate, I, and its pivot end is enlarged or bent to form aprojection or stop, W, at right angles to the length of the screw, andwhich shall bear against the plate Z. This offset or projection W servesto prevent the screw from swinging outward from a line at right anglesto the table, and yet leaves it free to. swing and close inward againstthe table. The clamp-screw will drop or swing out from the table by itsgravity when the table is set up, and in this position it will serve asa stop against which the upper cross-bar, G, of the inner free legs, BB, will bear. As only one pair of legs are pivoted to the body, and theothers are secured thereto by engagement of the swinging clamp'screw Gwith the notch f in the upper cross-bar, 0, connecting them, when thesaid clamp-screw is loosened and swung .clear of its notch the legs B Bare released, and will drop down and close between the outer pair, B,and both pair, swinging upon their hinged or pivoted joint E E, willfold snugly against the table. When thus folded against the table theyare confined by means of a spring-catch, J, projecting from the underside of the table in position to engage a pin, K, (see Fig. 5,) upon theside of the inner pair of legs. This catch will automatically engage thepin K whenever the legs are folded against the table, but may be readilywithdrawn and released with the finger whenever it is desired to freethe legs in order to set up the table. 0

When thus snugly folded up, and with its legs secured by thespring-catch J, the table occupies the least possible compass, and maybe readily stored away in a small space, or carried by the cross-bar Gat the projecting 5 ends of the legs. (See Fig. 3.) When needed for useit is quickly set up by releasing the spring-catch J, swinging out thelegs, and opening them until the cross-bar O is brought against thescrew G, which will drop of its own weight into the notch f of thecross-bar. When the screw is thus within the notch the legs are securedby turning up the clamp-nut H until it bears against the bar, a platebeing fitted upon the bar to protect it against the pressure of the nut.

5 The body can be made in any desired shape fancy may dictate, and thelegs may be adjusted to fold either in line with thelength or across thewidth of the table.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure :0 by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the under side of a folding table and with theupper cross-bar of a pair of legs for the same, pivoted centrally to asecond pair hinged directly to the table,

